You may notice your cooling system doesn’t feel like it’s working adequately, and when you go to check, find that your air conditioner unit is covered in ice. An air conditioner that “freezes up” is actually a victim of the A/C coils freezing up.

As a result, homeowners may find themselves without any air conditioning, and will need to call a HVAC professional.

The evaporator coil is prone to freezing, primarily because it transfers heat, or evaporates it, from the indoor to the outdoor air. In the process, it also drains a lot of condensation. When problems occur, this condensation can form a block of ice around the coil, causing it to freeze.

Below are several common problems that can cause your air conditioner to freeze up:

• A dirty filter - Anything that restricts the air flow over the coil surfaces can disrupt the balance of your system and cause icing.
• Low refrigerant - Refrigerant leaks or low levels of refrigerant can make the cold coil too cold and allow moisture in the air to freeze and accumulate.
• A dirty coil - When you first turn it on, are turn just the blower on you get good airflow.
• Temperature - Faulty thermostat or thermostats that are set too low can cause an air conditioner to run constantly, which can eventually drop the temperature of the condenser below freezing.

What can you do if your air conditioner freezes up?

First, turn off your air conditioning system completely off and let it defrost. Next, clean or replace any dirty filters and remove any visible dirt or obstructions. Open all registers completely and make sure furniture or draperies are not blocking them. The next thing, call an Air Conditioning Professional. Your system will need to be inspected to ensure there are no refrigerant leaks or damage to your equipment.

Regular maintenance on your air conditioning system helps you avoid many of these problems. During regular maintenance filters are cleaned or changed, thermostats are checked and leveled, refrigerant is checked for proper charge, and coils are inspected.